Snow may be on the way Saturday, but area gardeners are already thinking about spring planting.
In late January, many Georgia gardeners begin planning spring plantings, reviewing stored seeds and deciding what to grow based on space, climate and soil conditions. In the CSRA, those decisions are often shaped by what the region reliably delivers: long, hot summers, heavy humidity and disease pressure that can separate “looks good on paper” varieties from those that actually produce.
National Seed Swap Day is observed on the last Saturday in January each year. According to the National Day Calendar and the Seed Savers Exchange website, this year’s date is Jan. 31.
Seed swapping is a long-established practice that aligns with the fundamentals outlined in University of Georgia Cooperative Extension guidance: selecting appropriate varieties, building genetic diversity, and prioritizing plants that perform well under local conditions. Seeds saved from healthy, productive plants—grown repeatedly in the same region—can become better matched to local realities than seeds bred primarily for broad national distribution. Over time, gardeners who save and swap responsibly are not just trading packets; they are preserving and spreading locally proven genetics.
UGA Extension guidance also makes clear that not all seeds are equally suitable for saving and swapping. Open-pollinated varieties are generally the most reliable for seed saving because they can reproduce with consistent traits from generation to generation when cross-pollination is controlled. Heirloom varieties are typically open-pollinated lines maintained over time for specific traits such as flavor, color, storability or regional history, which is why heirloom seeds are commonly exchanged at swaps.
Hybrid seeds are different. A hybrid (often labeled “F1”) is created by crossing two distinct parent lines to produce a first-generation plant with targeted traits such as uniformity, vigor, or specific disease resistance. Hybrids can be excellent performers; however, seeds saved from hybrid plants often do not grow “true to type” the following season. That means the next generation may vary widely, producing plants that do not match the original planting, which can affect the final product’s appearance and taste.
Seed swapping also raises questions regarding terminology for genetically modified organisms. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a GMO is a plant, animal, or microorganism whose DNA has been altered through genetic engineering.
Hybrid does not mean GMO. Hybrids are produced through conventional cross-breeding. In the United States, the USDA uses the term “bioengineered” to describe foods that meet a specific federal definition of genetic modification. For home gardeners, the practical shopping question usually remains whether a seed is open-pollinated/heirloom (and therefore predictable for saving) or hybrid (often predictable for the first generation, but not for saved seed), along with whether the seed is treated with chemicals.
The basic mechanics of seed saving determine whether swaps are useful or wasted. Extension guidance emphasizes harvesting seeds only after full maturity, drying them thoroughly, and storing them in cool, dry, dark conditions to maintain viability. Clear labeling is treated as essential: at a minimum, seeds should be marked with the crop name, variety, and harvest year.
In the Augusta area, seed swaps are often supplemented by local and regional suppliers. Seeds ’N Such is based in Augusta and sells vegetable, herbs and flower seeds through online and mail-order sales rather than operating as a traditional walk-in garden center. For gardeners looking for transplants and seasonal starts, Sanderlin Greenhouses lists an Appling location and posted hours, while Bedford Greenhouses operates in Augusta with seasonal nursery inventory. Other area garden centers that carry plants and often stock seed seasonally include Good Earth Produce & Garden Center and Back To Nature Garden Center. For farm-supply style seed needs that may include bulk seed and seasonal packets, Barnhart’s Feed & Seed is one local option, and Cold Creek Nurseries serves the broader Augusta-Aiken region with nursery inventory.
Nick Lovett is an independent journalist with over 20 years of experience in news media and marketing. A former writer for Aiken Standard and Fort Gordon’s Signal newspaper, she focuses on human interest stories that highlight resilience, community and positive change.
